An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Bishop Burton International Youth Championships 2021 - order or view videos here
The top youth talent from across the UK headed to the Bishop Burton International Youth Championships last weekend to compete against the best of the best.
Competitors and their friends and family headed to Bishop Burton from Tuesday to settle in and enjoy entertainment, including a performance from Ben Atkinson Action Horses, something which has been very much missed whilst restrictions have been in place.
Designed by Joe Weller, the cross country course asked just the right questions of competitors in these championships. Running over undulating ground, 2021 has seen significant changes to the course with updated fences and good ground after a spattering of rain the week before the event.
Kicking off the competition was Annie Smith and 14.2hh Connemara, Annaghmore Lad, taking the win in the BE100 Open Under 18 Championship, followed by Annabel Finston and Lookout Lollypop in second and Heidi Ford riding Six For Gold in third.
Plenty of smiling faces, horsey cuddles and cheering from the side lines greeted Annie as she completed the show jumping on an overall score of 27.8, taking the East Midlands team to a team win in BE100 Open Under 18 with an overall score of 122.1.
“I knew Archie could do it,” says Annie, “I just never dreamt we could pull it off.
“He gave his absolute all in every phase and rose to the occasion knowing it really mattered. His dressage was the best test he’s done, once he went down the centre line, he was completely focused allowing me to push him and take risks,” she added.
Although he can be opinionated out cross country, meaning Annie had to add in a couple of circles to make sure of her lines, he still flew around within the time giving the pair a pole in hand going into the show jumping to give them first place.
The pair's sixth consecutive British Eventing win, Annaghmore Lad, known as Archie at home, also won the Grassroots Regional Final in 2019 but was unable to compete at the championships with Annie due to coronavirus restrictions.
Phoebe Hughes has also had an absolutely marvellous season, having taken the win in the long awaited CCI Junior 2*-L class at Belsay International earlier this year riding Fabris. Her other ride, Top Biats, owned by George Brooks, took the top spot in the CCI Young Rider 2*-L Section C at Bishop Burton last weekend.
Top Biats was leading from the get-go with a score of 21.6 in the dressage phase.
“I am speechless about winning the championship, Top isn’t the easiest horse, but he really listened to me and made a tough track feel really easy. I am also thrilled that the team was on the podium and to win both individually and as a team is amazing, we had the best week together,” says Phoebe.
Many riders finished on their dressage scores in a tough class, but Phoebe could still afford 0.4 time penalties in her show jumping round to take the win. She was also part of the South West team’s lead in the CCI Young Rider 2*-L team class including other riders such as Millie Juleff, Rowan Laird and Rachel Hatherell.
“It’s been an incredible year. I never imagined it to go this well and it wouldn’t be possible without my home team and owner. Over winter and during lockdowns I really cracked on with training, putting a lot of hours in alongside my A-levels and it’s so rewarding to see it paying off. I’m ecstatic to have had two consecutive wins at 2*L with both Fabris and Top Biats.”
When Phoebe moved to Hector Payne’s yard three years ago she wasn’t looking for another ride but one thing led to another which resulted in her riding Top Biats at South of England finishing second by just 0.1 time fault in the Open Novice class and here they are.
She is now looking forward to training with Hector, Yaz Sanderson and Ian Woodhead with the hope to step up to Intermediate with Top and to complete her first 3* with Fabris.
Another superstar CCI 2*-L Young Rider was Xanthe De Wesselow who led Section D, a very tough class with only two double clears. Her win with CDS Rock Away Beach also follows a fantastic fourth place finish in the CCI Junior 2*-L class at Belsay.
Xanthe has been pulling out amazing results all season with the 10-year-old gelding, who only competed in his first 2*-L at Thorseberton nine months ago.
There were also plenty of photo opportunities for riders with the Central team being pictured piling into a sponsored Porsche adorned with rosettes and trophies after their BE90 Youth team win.
“After the huge excitement of winning and receiving all our incredible prizes, it was exciting when their lovely representative came over and asked our team to take a picture in front of their Porsche 911. I even sat in the driver’s seat,” laughs Frankie Fox, winner of BE90 Under 18 Championship Section B riding Eldorado Van De Otterdijk.
“I think the fact that the Porsche family is big on their dressage made it a fitting sponsor for our win.”
A fairly new partnership after only being together three months, Eldorado Van De Otterdijk, known as Otto at home, is Frankie’s first horse coming from ponies.
“When we arrived at Bishop Burton last week, I didn’t even think we had a chance of getting placed, let alone winning. It was an honour just to be selected for the Central team,” she says. “It does feel like all the effort, time and determination put into my riding and our partnership has paid off and made it all worth it.”
Unfortunately, Otto has an underlying leg injury which means after big events he is given plenty of TLC and time off. The 12-year-old KWPN will now be enjoying a holiday in the field after celebrating his first big championship win, which was of course accompanied by a little buck of delight in the pair’s lap of honour.
“The championships give young riders like me the opportunity to experience what a proper three day event entails; the set-up, the professional atmosphere, the team spirit and of course the pressure,” says Frankie.
“It shows what eventing is all about.”
Article by Kelly Aitkin
